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SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Post-basic Diploma: Medical Surgical Nursing: Critical Care Nursing Science 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
78405  Post-basic Diploma: Medical Surgical Nursing: Critical Care Nursing Science 
ORIGINATOR
General SGB 09 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
The individual Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary for each Learning Programme recorded against this qualification is shown in the table at the end of this report.  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Post-basic Diploma  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Curative Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  144  Level 6  NQF Level 08  Regular-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 091/21  2021-07-01  2023-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Primary Purpose
To develop nurse practitioners as consultants who have hands on approach to provide essential, individualised, holistic care directed towards the survival of the person, and to achieve optimal physiological, psychological, emotional, social and economic potential.

Secondary Purpose
Provide South African community with significant numbers of critical care nurse specialists who recognise that critical care situation is dynamic, and changes are aimed at humanising and personalising nursing care, rehabilitating patients and preventing recurrence of disease process and who facilitate patients to learn to become more independent and to take greater responsibility for their own health. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Senior Certificate or an equivalent which gives admission to formal post secondary education i.e. Grade 12.

Knowledge and skills of a nurse who has obtained registration with the South African Nursing Council as a General Nurse and Midwife.
  • Natural and Biological Sciences.
  • Nursing History, Ethics and Professional Practice.
  • Fundamentals of Nursing Science.
  • General Nursing Science.
  • Comprehensive Health Care and Health Care Systems.
  • Maternal Health related to pregnancy, labour and the puerperium
  • Care of the Newborn.

    English medium - verbal and written. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    N 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification may not be achieved in whole or in part through the recognition of prior learning. 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Specific outcomes:

    Nursing Dynamics

    Upon completion of this course of studies, graduates will have acquired knowledge, skills and attributes to enable them to:

    1. Apply by informed judgement and behaviour, the meaning, value, ethical and legal considerations in nursing practice.
    2. Participate as a consultant and facilitator in community development activities.
    3. Communicate effectively with individuals, families, groups and multidisciplinary team across the life span and cultural spectrum.
    4. Plan and implement an effective teaching programme for individuals, families, groups and communities.
    5. Apply the principles of unit management within the framework of current health service policy.
    6. Manage personnel effectively in the provision of patient care.
    7. Participate in research activities and utilise researched information in the health service delivery.

    Capita Selecta

    1. Manage and collaborate with health team members in nursing a compromised patient using the scientific nursing process model.

    Critical care Nursing: General

    1. Apply a systematic approach during assessment of the health status of the critically ill patient and implement holistic nursing interventions within the individual, the family, group and community context.
    2. Assume leadership of the nursing team and work harmoniously with multidisciplinary team.
    3. Practice critical care nursing within the scope of professional ethical norms and legal provisions.
    4. Provide psycho-social support to critically ill patient and his family.

    Critical cross-field outcomes:

    1. Identifying and solving problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made.
    2. Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation and community.
    3. Organise and manage self and ones activities responsibly and effectively.
    4. Collect, analyse, organise, critically evaluate and use information.
    5. Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and language skills in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion.
    6. Use science and technology effectively and critically show responsibility towards environment and the health of others.
    7. Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognizing that the problem solving context do not exist in isolation.
    8. Developmental outcome: to contribute to the full personal development of each learner and the social and economic development of society at large - the critical care nursing science program make the individual aware of the importance of:
  • Reflecting on and exploring a variety of strategies to learn more effectively.
  • Participating as responsible citizens in the life of local national and global communities.
  • Being culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social context.
  • Exploring education and career opportunities. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Nursing Dynamics

    Projects, assignments, case studies, study materials, written tests and examinations and clinical assessment.
    Learners will be assessed on their ability to:

    One
    Apply relevant legislations to the practice of nursing.
    Use ethical codes and principles to act as an advocate for patient, families and groups
    Take responsibility and accountability within the limits of own competence as a clinical nurse specialist according to scope of practice and relevant legislation.
    Recognise, analyse and debate the current factors that contribute to the transformation of the nursing profession.

    Two
    Perform a health/disease profile of the community.
    Make recommendations based on identified needs guided by the National Health Plan.
    Utilise available data to initiate and facilitate high quality nursing service.
    Analyse health and health related policies relevant to the clinical nurse specialists and use these to give input for the promotion of the health status of the population.

    Three
    Show awareness and tolerance of cultural diversity and others' opinions.
    Communicate effectively with all age groups and with people having mental and physical disabilities.
    Collaborate and consult effectively with members of the multidisciplinary team.
    Apply effective interpersonal skills in managing conflict.
    Create a supportive environment for colleagues and patients.

    Four
    Design and implement teaching programmes for the identified learning needs.
    Give relevant health information using the Primary Health Care Approach.
    Demonstrate competence in written and oral presentations.

    Five
    Choose the most effective method of assigning nursing care in accordance with the available resources.
    Exercise leadership skills in given situations.
    Prepare the budget and account for the financial needs and expenditure for the unit.
    Determine, formulate and monitor nursing care standards.
    Compile and implement a risk management programme.
    Plan a disaster programme and evaluate the effectiveness thereof and manage emergencies appropriately.
    Support and facilitate changes as identified.

    Six
    Formulate and implement an orientation programme
    Apply grievance and disciplinary procedures affectively.
    Conduct performance appraisal interviews.
    Create a therapeutic and supportive environment
    Support staff development activities.

    Seven
    Apply the fundamentals of research in the practice of nursing.
    Critically analyse clinical researched articles/reports.
    Evaluate the possibility for research projects for the self, clinical environment, management and education.
    Negotiate/facilitate the implementation of relevant research results to patient care.

    Capita Selecta

    1. Perform a physiological, psychological and socio-cultural assessment of patients with dysfunctions/conditions of the following systems:
  • Cardiovascular
  • Haematological
  • Respiratory
  • Neurological
  • Renal
  • Endocrine
  • Gastro Intestinal
  • Immune
  • Homeostasis.
    2. Formulate nursing interventions in the Management of high risk and critical health problems according to prioritised needs identified.
    3. Implement a programme of care and treatment including medication in relation to the maintenance of life's regulatory mechanisms and the emergency nursing of patients.
    4. Interpret data obtained from physical, radiological and laboratory investigations and manage the patient appropriately.
    5. Evaluate the health status of patients against baseline data and modify interventions accordingly.
    6. Evaluate the appropriateness of different diagnostic and therapeutic techniques used in the management of patients.
    7. Give health and resource information to prevent and minimise admissions to specialised health care units.
    8. Administer medications correctly, safely according to prescription, legislation and scope of practice.
    9. Assist patients and their families in planning for their short and long term independent health management needs.
    10. Respond efficiently and effectively to a compromised patient of all age groups to save his/her life and prevent disability.

    Critical Care Nursing: General

    One
    Apply critical care nursing skills in any given time and Geographical situation.
    Recognise human response to life threatening illness and Intervene appropriately.
    Create/facilitate an enabling environment that is therapeutic and meets individuals'/families/groups/communities needs for privacy, confidentiality, well being and dignity.
    Advocate for patients/families within the critical care environment.
    Make intelligent observations about conditions of patients and make informed decisions about nursing interventions.
    Construct nursing interventions to assist patient in their adaptation to critical illness.
    Demonstrate safe and efficient quality patient care and economic use of both human and physical resources.
    Analyse, select and implement interventions to modify the multiple etiologic factors of a problem to achieve the most favourable patient outcome.
    Use equipment and technology in the critical care unit safely, appropriately and ethically.
    Demonstrate accountability to develop competencies in the use of high technology in the critical care unit.
    Recognise that technological critical care environment offers numerous benefits to critically ill patient i.e. increased survival, rapid identification of complication and thus prompt interventions.
    Apply knowledge and skills concerning diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
    Provide evidence of documentation of all intervention by all health care givers in the critical care unit.
    Demonstrates safe and correct administration of medications, fluids, blood/blood products and monitor patients' response and intervene appropriately.
    Give appropriate health education and discharge planning.
    Monitor patient constantly, interpret data obtained against body of scientific knowledge and responds effectively and effectively.
    Refer problems beyond own competencies.

    Two
    Demonstrate nursing skills and co-ordinates activities with others.
    Plan and formulate policies and action plan with regards to staffing the unit, work methods, procedures and use of resources.
    Explain new ideas and be pro-active towards constructive change in critical care situation.
    Identify areas for the improvement of quality of critical care and respond appropriately.
    Design, and implement a teaching programme to build on existing skills and competencies of team members in the critical care unit.
    Pursue excellence and originality in own work and support these qualities in the work of others.
    Establish and maintain ethical partnership with other health care professionals to provide for collaborative care to critically ill patients and their families.
    Demonstrate knowledge of roles, skills and abilities of colleagues and other members of the health care team.
    Demonstrates personal skills of tolerance, empathy and to accept criticism.
    Demonstrates ability to cope with adverse situation - power failure, ventilator inoperative etc.

    Three
    Make skilful ethical decisions and apply moral reasoning in the critical care setting.
    Apply ethical principles to everyday nursing practice.
    Prevent medico-legal risks and environmental hazards.
    Explore specific legal issues with death and dying.
    Take responsibility and accountability to ensure continuous professional competence required in critical care unit.
    Critically analyse the ethical and legal dimension of critical care nursing, (brain death, organ donation, terminating advance life supports etc).

    Four
    Identify stresses for patient and family in critical care unit.
    Perform psychosocial assessment that includes observation of non-verbal behaviour.
    Provide an open communication channel between family and health team.
    Help family to avoid delayed depression and allow for future emotional growth, thus regaining a state of equilibrium.
    Speak openly and tactfully to patients and family about illness / trauma and provide them with opportunities to make informed choices.

    Assessment criteria associated with Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:

    One
    Use the nursing process as a scientific, systematic framework for critical thinking, in which the critical care specialist seeks information, identifies and responds to clinical cues or issues affecting patient health.
    Formulates nursing diagnosis and statements about clinical problems, weakness, strengths and wellness.
    Determines nursing interventions and expected outcome that describes patient or family behaviour that will indicate achievement of goals.
    Evaluates interventions are effective and problems resolved or need for reassessment, further planning, interventions and re-evaluation until outcome is met.
    Explore and critically assess direct and indirect factors that have an impact on the critical care setting.

    Two
    Demonstrates personal skills e.g. tolerance, empathy and accepting criticism, etc.
    Demonstrates openness to different cultural perspectives and learn about and experience the values of his/her own culture and those of others.
    Recognise that to maintain emotional reserves - colleagues need to support and enhance each other's feelings of belonging and self esteem in a critical care environment.
    Undertake health related projects that provide evidence of successful interaction with others.

    Three
    Demonstrates a high degree of professional behaviour.
    Demonstrate self-discipline - required to accommodate many life roles and reach professional maturity.
    Develop a philosophy of his/her own, which supports the learners in their struggle to balance the high demands of critical care nursing and be a contributing member of the community.
    Recognise own strength and weakness and develop coping strategies.

    Four
    Develop cognitive strategies i.e. able to think on the job, create innovative solutions to unusual problems in critical care environment and to generalise their professional and personal experience to responsive nursing practice.
    Take nursing history from children and adults of all age and develop nursing diagnosis.
    Use the admission register of the unit to note trends in disease patterns.
    Undertake mini-research programmes in critical care setting.
    Use patient records to teach the students and colleagues.

    Five
    Recognise communication is upward, downward and horizontal and utilise the various channels of communication.
    Demonstrate creative thinking i.e. identification of the correct facts in a situation and thinking about these facts before taking action.
    Perceive the elements of a situation and provide information.
    Demonstrate ability to give clear, concise, verbal and written reports on patients and listen with discernment and observe accurately and with judgement.
    Initiate referrals and communicate information that will co-ordinate and facilitate care in critical care settings.

    Six
    Possess expertise in the use of technology yet remain aware of patients and family fear of this environment and attend to patient responses produced by his\her interaction with the environment.
    Recognise the potential in the use of technology in critical care unit to depersonalise nurses and patients and need to protect each other from the indifference of the machine.
    Recognise that the technological critical care environment offers numerous benefits to critically ill patient i.e. increased survival, rapid identification of complication and thus prompt interventions.
    Be sensitive to sounds and lights in critical care unit and provide information on the environment to patient to lower anxiety, i.e. to use personal and therapeutic skills of "touch".

    Seven
    Think holistically -basic concepts, (man, health, nursing and environment) and consider the person as a total human being within a number of context.
    Recognise that nursing studies the wholeness of man who is in continuous interaction with the environment.
    Identify health problems in totality and show skills in collecting, processing and presenting data pertaining to health problems and subsequently resolve and manage them from individual level through family level and to community level.
    Critically analyse the ethical and legal dimensions of critical care nursing.
    View patients and family from a broader perspective i.e. to consider all possible causes of ill health e.g. life style, family relationships, home environment and occupational hazards.

    Eight
    Identify personal limitations and to nurture the capacity and interest in enhancing their knowledge and develop personal characteristic required for professional advancement through an awareness of personal assets and liabilities.
    Recognise, maintain and develop the personal characteristic and attitude required to specialise in critical care nursing science.
  • Be a self-directed learner, recognise personal, educational needs, selecting appropriate learning resources and evaluating personal progress.
  • Be responsible and accountable in all life roles.
  • Adapt to the variety of critical care setting and being culturally sensitive to all members of society.
  • Be a productive member of a group, which engage in learning, research and set foundation for continued learning.

    Integrated assessment:

    Formative assessment
    Learning and assessment are integrated. The scheme of work includes tests and assignments, clinical laboratory work and competency evaluation of clinical skills. The process is continuous and focuses on smaller sections of the work in limited number of outcomes.

    Summative assessment
    Summative assessments test the students' abilities to manage and integrate a larger body of knowledge and to achieve the stated outcomes of a course/module. The summative assessment also focuses on the students' ability to integrate knowledge and skills in the practical health care related situations relevant to the particular area of specialisation. Summative assessment includes examinations in both theory and practical. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    A person who completes the Diploma can obtain registration as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in other countries e.g. U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Holland. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Upon completion of the Diploma students may proceed to first degrees and higher degrees e.g. Clinical Master's Degree. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Within the college's subject specific examination committees e.g. three people are appointed to set examinations for a cycle of one year.
  • In addition the School of Nursing - University of Natal fulfils the role of external examiners to act as moderators of examinations papers and scripts for all course and modules
  • The SANC as a professional statutory body is responsible for the registration of specific professional qualifications play a role in determining specific aspects of the curriculum relevant to such qualifications, in these instances fulfil a moderating role. 
    		•

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Our own staff will be used as assessors in a manner which firs into the quality management system of the college and accords with college tuition and assessment policies. This will also apply to the appointment of outside persons.

    The quality management system:
    Qualifications: The minimum requirement for appointment as a lecturer or external markers at the college is a Diploma in Nursing Education and appropriate experience.

    Mentorship: All junior and new members of staff are mentored by senior members as they work together in teams

    Training: All new members of staff undergo an orientation session and are given clear guidelines on how to assess particular pieces of work. 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    LP ID Learning Programme Title Originator Pre-2009
    NQF Level    		 NQF Level Min Credits Learning Prog End Date Quality
    Assurance
    Functionary    		 NQF Sub-Framework
    78425  Post-basic Diploma: Medical and Surgical Nursing Science: Critical Care Nursing Science  Mmabatho College of Nursing  Level 6  Level N/A: Pre-2009 was L6  144     SANC  HEQSF 
    22967  Post-basic Diploma: Medical Surgical Nursing: Critical Care Nursing Science  NATAL COLLEGE OF NURSING  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  184  2006-06-30  SANC  HEQSF 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THESE LEARNING PROGRAMMES: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.